RJ
Years ago
2005 U16 Grand Final Previews
The fluff continues ....
Under 16 Boys 1:
10:45 DH Dome 3 Sturt Sabres (1) V (2) West Adelaide
Semi Sturt 57 def. West Adelaide 55
Rd. 19 Sturt 50 def. West Adelaide 47
Rd. 10 Sturt 48 def. West Adelaide 45
Rd. 1 Sturt 48 drew to West Adelaide 48
Summer Premiers: Sturt Sabres
State Champs Premiers: West Adelaide Bearcats
A battle again between arguably the best two teams in this grade across the year. Once again these two clubs have built a healthy rivalry in the boys over the past two or three years and that will continue once again on Sunday. West Adelaide started their finals road on week one against the Rockets. A hard fought 51-47 win put them up against the Sabres for a guaranteed Grand Final berth. While the game was of a very high standard it was focused around both teams defensive styles. The much maligned West zone at one end, the high energy constrictive Sturt man on man defence down the other. With that came a loss of focus from the Bearcats and a lead to the Sabres. Through some sound decision making and big shots West fought their way back into the game only to fall short by 2 points at the final siren. Sturt needing just the one game to head into the Grand Final. West were forced to back up on Sunday, once again against the Rockets. West pulled out the win 45-39 in what has been labelled the battle of the zones. (What a shame to not see Carlo and his boys around, I've got nothing left to stir you up over mate!)
And so to the Grand Final. Sturt's frontline has been bolstered in the run home by the return of big man Claybrin McMath. I'm sure State Coach Paul Arnott and will rue his unavailability at this years Nationals. Next to McMath inside will be S.A. Metro PF Keegan Brooksby. One of the hardest working big juniors I've seen Brooksby will pull in plenty of boards against the West tall timber. They'll be supported mostly by impressive bottom age Peter Leijs. They'll go up against West's numerous bigs including S.A. Country rep and bottom age Billy Wilson. Injury will mean the Bearcats won't be at full strength but they still have plenty of bangers to do the work inside. The Sabres backcourt will be lead by Ben Yeomans. The PG controls the Sabres on court tempo and hustles like few others. Next to him will be a number of talented 2/3 men including some very gifted bottom ages. State Metro reserve Josh Bond will share PG duties with James Curyer. But West's strength would be in their 2/3 men sweet shooters Nathan Humphries (SA Country) and Kurtis Phillips (SA Metro). If either light up they're an impressive and entertaining site to see and much will rely on how much they and to a lesser extent Bond can score from outside.
West by 2.
Under 16 Girls 1:
10:45 DH Dome 2 Norwood Flames (2) V (3) West Adelaide
Qual Norwood 49 def. West Adelaide 27
Rd. 15 West Adelaide 56 def. Norwood 33
Rd. 6 West Adelaide 57 def. Norwood 38
Summer Premiers: North Adelaide Rockets
State Champs Premiers: North Adelaide Rockets
A new premier will be added to the 2005 list with the #1 seeded Rockets bombing out of the finals series in two straight losses. Both West Adelaide and Norwood played impressively against the Rockets and earned their places in this final. Norwood began their finals quest with a comfortable win against the Bearcats. In the semi the Flames finally got a win over the Rockets, 50-38. That win put them straight into this Grand Final. I have no doubt they were expecting to again face the Rockets but West got in the way of that. The Bearcats bounced back from their first round finals loss to cast aside a very dangerous Eastern Mavs line-up in their Semi (yeah the 'smiling assassin' is most disappointed for you Madgen,) to continue on to meet the Rockets for a Grand Final berth. While I wasn't in attendance I'm told it appeared the Bearcats simply wanted it more, and out played North for a 50-33 victory.
I must admit I am totally unprepared for this. I wrongly assumed this would be a Flames v Rockets final. In their defence though the Bearcats have done a lot of work building a big, effective side around the superb Rebecca Riggs. Teegan Coombes' year was good enough for a look in with the S.A. Country squad and the Bearcats bigs will hold the key to any success they may have in this game. On the other side the Flames line-up includes many names with guards Kirsty Adamek and Jordan Walker-Roberts and bigs Amy Fisher and Jessica Von Einem coming off a disappointing National Championships with the S.A. Metro side. Underestimate the Bearcats at your peril but I just like this group too much to tip against them here at the end of it all.
Norwood by 10.
Under 16 Boys 2:
8:30 Wayville 3 Sturt Sabres 1 (1) V (4) North Adelaide
Rd. 17 Sturt 1 59 def. North Adelaide 38
Rd. 6 Sturt 1 41 def. North Adelaide 36
Summer Premiers: Sturt Sabres 1
State Champs Premiers: Sturt Sabres 1
The Sabres have tasted plenty of success this year and should end the basketball year with another title on Sunday.
North Adelaide have come through from 4th position to make the Grand Final and would be full of confidence after a strong couple of weeks. A close Qualifying Final win against West was followed by a 5 point win over the #3 ranked Sturt 2 side. Most impressive of all was their Preliminary Final win over Norwood 44-32.
Top seeded Sturt 1 have had an easy ride to the Grand Final needing only a comfortable win over Norwood 61-30 in the Semis to get here.
Sundays match-up. North at full strength pushed the Sabres earlier in the season and in their current form could have the Sabres a little worried. North do have a smart coach in Kevin Rock, some good size and a more then capable back court maybe even capable of pulling off an upset. The Sabres didn't get this far for no reason either though and have one of the best non Division 1 coaches (for 4 more days,) in Jarrod Clarke as well as some of the best bottom age players in Adelaide.
Sturt by 14.
Under 16 Girls 2:
9:30 Wayville 1 Sturt Sabres 2 (2) V (1) North Adelaide 1
Semi Sturt 2 38 def. North Adelaide 1 37
Rd. 17 Sturt 2 40 drew with North Adelaide 1 40
Rd. 6 Sturt 2 29 def. North Adelaide 1 24
Summer Premiers: Sturt Sabres
State Champs Premiers: Sturt Sabres
If this Final is anything like their Semi it will definitely be a highlight of the day. Two talented teams went head to head and only after overtime did Sturt sneak out a win. Another div 2 side to benefit from Sturt's rotation system with experienced coach Marcus Wong at the helm. The Sabres finals have included wins against Norwood in the first round and that infamous win against the Rockets in the Semi. North backed up strongly after that loss to also beat the Flames.
Sturt by 3.
